Bravo!

PreS-Gr 2—Helena, a trumpet-playing kitten who lives with her mother, father, and little brother, has almost a perfect life, except for one thing. Her father is a shouter who comes from a long line of shouters. She dislikes his yelling so much that she leaves home to find another person with whom to live. In the midst of her parents' search for her, Helena's father promises never to shout again. Finally, they see a poster for a concert featuring their daughter. She triumphantly performs and is happy to hear her father's shout of "Bravo!" A reunion is glimpsed at story's end. The muted, full-color art is delicate and sketchy. The illustrations feature plenty of white space and large vistas that focus the action on the family. Children will respond to Helena, a self-contained child who finds her own quiet way to respond to the noise around her.—Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI